Guard fence for well pumping units



June 19, 1951 M. J. LowRY A 2,557,300

GUARD FENCE FOR WELL PUMPING UNTS Filed July 9, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1951 M. J. LowRY GUARD FENCE FOR WELL PUMPING UNITS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1949 Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUARD FENCE FOR WELL PUMPING UNITS Michael J. Lowry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 9, 1949, Serial No. 103,826

3 Claims. (Cl. 256-f-21) v This invention relates to a guard fence for enclosing the usually large and heavy crank structures and associated moving parts of the pumping units of wells, particularly oil wells, so as to prevent injury of workers or persons who otherwise might get too close to such units, it being noted that the laws of many states require safety fences or like guard structures for such well pumping units.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a guard fence, for the purpose above noted, which is constructed and arranged to prove superior to guard fences or guard structures here-` tofore employed in point of simplicity of construction, inexpensiveness of production and installation, lending itself to economical production and installation in sizes adaptable to different types of pumping units, ease of installa- Another specific object of this invention is the provision of a novel and simple means of detachably connecting two of the fence sections with one another and with the two base units of the fence wherein no separate or extraneous fastenv ings are required, assembly of the fence sections to vary the height of the fence is afforded and a quicker and easier installation and taking down of the fence is made possible.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the' accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a guard fence embodying my invention, as installed in connection with a well pumping unit;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the fence, with the sections of the fence broken away for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged fragmentary elevational view partly in section of one lower corner as it would appear in looking in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view partly in section as seen from the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged exploded, fragmentary, perspective view showing the manner of assembling the fence; and i Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings more specifically Fig. 1 thereof shows a guard fence A embodying my invention as set up around a well pumping unit of the type used for pumping oil wells. This pumping unit includes a base structure B supporting a drive means C for a crank unit D which latter operates the walking beam E through driving links F. l

My improved guard fence, in one form, as here shown is rectangular and includes a pairof like rectangular side sections and 8, a rectangular end section 9 for one end of the fence and a pair of ylike rectangular end sections I0 and I I for forming the other end of the fence with a central gap or space for drive connection, not shown, between the prime mover, also not shown, and the drive means C for the crank unit D. These fence sections when put up as shown inv Fig. l serve to prevent workers and persons from being injured by getting too close to the crank structure D and associated moving parts of the pump unit.

Each of the several sections, there being in this instance iive, is formed of a suitable meshed body I2 made of a panel of wire or expanded metal to afford desired visibility therethrough plus vWeight reduction, which body is xed to and bordered by a rectangular angle iron frame I3. The side sections 'I and 8 have the lower corners cut away as at I4 to accommodate a particular joining of the sections of the fence as will be hereinafter described.

In accordance with my invention I provide as a base for the fence, a pair of angle iron base rails I5 and I6 which are adapted to be fixed, as by being welded, to the base structure B of the pumping unit, so as to extend horizontally across the base structure on opposite sides of the crank unit D and associated moving parts and in such spaced relation to one another as to suit the particular dimensions of the side sections 1 and 8 for the particular pump unit.

Welded or otherwise fixed as I5 and I6 or at I such points on the rails best suited to the particular dimensions of the sections4 of the fence. are like upright channel-shaped and open-ended keeper members I1 with their open sides opposed so that the lower corner portions of the end section 9 and the outermost lower corners of sections I and II may be lowered into the channels of the keeper members with the frames I3 of said sections tted therein as shown in Fig. 6. The inner lower corners of the spaced end sections I0 and II are received in like channeled keepers members I8 xed to the base rail I5 in the same manner as the keepers II.

As a means for limiting the seating, that is, the downward extension of the end sections Q Il@ and II in the keeper members I'I and I6, the frames I3 for said sections are provided with stop lugs I9 welded thereto so as to abut the tops of said keeper members as best-'shown inlig. 3.

As a means for connecting the end sections 9,

I0 and II with the side sections 'I and andthe latter with the keeper members I1, the side sections are provided adjacent the upper and lower ends of the end members of their frames i3" with downwardly facing hooks or pintles 20 and 2i which are Welded or otherwise fixed thereto and adapted to be tted into eyes or apertured members 22 and 23 xed in like manner to the upper ends of the side members of the frames I3 of the end-sections I and 8 andv to the keeper members I'I respectively. This connecting of the upper portions of the end sections 9, I0 and I I with the side sections I and 8 provided for by means of pintles 20 and the eyes or apertured members 2? while the lower ends of the side members are connected to the upright'keeper members Il by means of the pintles 2lV and apertured members 23, ties the sections together securely and provides a rigid and durable fence which can be much more readily, easily and inexpensively installer." and taken down than fences as heretofore provided.

It will now be seen that an ecient fence bodying my invention may consist of but fric fence'sections and two base rails units which lat ter include `the keeper members I'I and I8 fixed thereto and that these parts may be packed and shipped in comparatively small compass and are subject to being readily and easily set up on the job without the use of bolts and other extraneous fastening.

vThe operation of installing the fence simply requires that the two base rails I and IG bc fixed, for example, as by being Welded, to the base structure of the pump unit and thereafter the end sections 9, Ill and II are fitted into the keeper members I'I and I 8 and thus held upright, following which the side sections and C are easily lowered into proper position to cause the pintle thereon to t into the eyes 22 and 23 on theend sections and keeper members I'I respectively.

I claim:

1. In a guard fence for a well pumping unit, a plurality of end sections for forming the ends of a substantially rectangular fence, side sections adapted to be joined to the end sections to form the sides of said rectangular fence, rails adapted to be fixed to the base' structure of the pumping unit so as to extend horizontally in spaced opposed relation to one another, keeper members of channel shape in cross section xed to upright position to said rails in the channels of which the lower ends of said end sections are removably socketed to hold the end sections upright, hook members on said side sections; and apertured members on said end sections and keeper members respectively detachably receiving said hook members to hold the sections assembled asafence. 1 i.j. I' i 2. In a guard fence for'a well pumping unit, a` plurality of end sections for forming the ends of a substantially rectangular fence, side sectionsadapted to be joined to the end sections to form the sides of said rectangular fence, rails adapted to be fixed to the base structure of the pumping unit so as to extend horizontally in spaced opposed relation to one another, keeper members of channel shape in cross section xed to upright position to said rails in the channels of which the lower ends of said end sections are removably socket'ed to hold the end sections upright, apertured members on said end sections and said-keeper members respectively, and downwardly facing hooks on said side sections engaged with said apertured members for detach- Y ably connecting said side sections to said end sections and detachably connecting said side sections to said keeper members.

3. In a guard fence for a well pumping unit, a plurality of end sections for forming the' ends of a substantially rectangular fence, side sections adapted to be joined to the end sections to form sides of said rectangular fence, rails adapted to be fixed to the base structure of the pumping unit so as to extend horizontally in spaced opposed relation to-one another, keeper members of channel shape in cross section fixed toy upright position to said rails in the channels of which the lower ends of said end sections are removably socketed to hold the end sections upright, stop members on said end sections for contacting the upperends of said keeper members to limit the extension of said end sections into said keeper members, and means for detachably connecting the ends of said-side sections to said end sections and said keeper'members respectively. MICHAEL J. LOWRY.

AREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of thisv patent:

UNITEDl STATES`v PATENTS Number Name Date 210,757 Davis et al. Dec. 10, 1878 806,160 Metz Dec. 5, 1905 957,259 Ruby May 10, 1910 1,055,625 Fessler Mar. 11, 1913 1,168,836 Vette Jan. 18, 1916 1,677,693 Trufant July 17, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 546,053 Great Britain June 25, 1942 

